Apparatus and method for displaying an object

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for displaying an object is provided. The apparatus includes a body portion having a base end for engaging a display surface, such as a wall, and an opposite mounting end for engaging the object to be displayed. The apparatus also includes, at its base end, an attachment mechanism for securely affixing the apparatus to the display surface. The apparatus further includes, at its mounting end, a hub for releasably mounting the object being displayed onto the mounting end of the apparatus. A method of displaying an object is also provided.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. Nos. 60/742,070 filed Dec. 2, 2005 and 60/742,069 filed Dec. 2, 2005, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying an object, and more particularly, to an apparatus for decorative display of an object on a vertical surface.

BACKGROUND ART

Discs, such as compact discs (CDs) or Digital Video Discs (DVDs), have been widely used as a storage medium for music, software, movies, computer games and various other digital contents. Since their creation, a multitude of display and storage devices for these discs have been created. One common disc storing device is a jewel box. A jewel box is generally a thin molded plastic box having a transparent base, a transparent lid hingedly attached to the base, and a disc-holding tray secured on the base. The disc is removably secured onto the tray by a centrally located flexible circular hub designed to extend through a. center hole of the disc and engage the edge of the hole. These jewel boxes, however, are mainly designed as a storing or protective device, and are not for decoratively displaying a disc or a collection of discs.

Currently, other disc display devices or systems are commercially available. However, these display devices or systems have predetermined display patterns and do not permit a user to configure the arrangement of the discs being displayed. The ability to configure the arrangement of discs on display can be desirable, since such an ability permits the user to display the discs as part of an overall decorative scheme or as a decorative center piece. In addition, the ability to configure the arrangement allows the user to adapt the display according to the specific like or taste of the user.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a display mechanism or apparatus that would permit a user to display objects, such as CDs in a decorative or practical manner, or in any geometric pattern, which can be altered, adapted or configured to match the occasion, mood, or taste of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in one embodiment, provides an apparatus for displaying an object, such as a CD, DVD, or other similar objects having a center hole. The apparatus, in an embodiment, includes a body portion having a base end for engaging a display surface, such as a wall, and an opposite mounting end for engaging the object to be displayed. The apparatus also includes, at its base end, an attachment mechanism for securely affixing the apparatus to the display surface. The apparatus further includes, at its mounting end, a hub for releasably mounting the object onto the mounting end of the apparatus. In accordance with one embodiment, the hub may be flexible and may be designed to extend through a center hole of the object, so as to engage the edge of the hole to retain the object on the mounting end.

The present invention, in another embodiment, provides a method for displaying an object. The method includes initially providing an apparatus having a base for engaging a display surface, an attachment mechanism for securely affixing the apparatus to the display surface, an mounting end opposite the base for engaging the object to be displayed, and a flexible hub for releasably mounting the object onto the mounting end of the apparatus. Next, the apparatus may be securely affixed to the display surface, such as a wall. Thereafter, the object having a hole therethrough may be positioned adjacent the mounting end so that the hole is in alignment with the flexible hub. Once in alignment, the object may be advanced toward the hub until the flexible hub extends through the hole and engages its edge. In that manner, the object may be retained on the mounting end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an apparatus for displaying an object in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrate a profile of ribs on an underside of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 used for stacking a plurality of apparatuses.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate various patterns for which a plurality of the apparatuses can be arranged to display as many objects.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the present invention provides, in one embodiment, an apparatus 10 for displaying an object, such as a CD, DVD, or other similar objects having an aperture or hole located in the center or anywhere on the object.

The apparatus 10, in an embodiment, includes a body portion 11 having a base end 12 for engaging a display surface, such as a wall, and an opposite mounting end 13 for engaging the object to be displayed. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base end 12 and the mounting end 13 may be designed to be in axial alignment with one another.

The base end 12, in one embodiment, may be designed to be in a shape of a circle, a square, or any other geometric shape that can provide stability to the body portion 11 once it is affixed to the display surface. Moreover, to minimize the visual effect or appearance of apparatus 10 when it is affixed to, for example, a vertical display surface without an object mounted to the mounting end 13, the base end 12 may be provided with a width or diameter D that can be measurably longer than a height H of the body portion 11 of apparatus 10. In one embodiment, the height of body portion 11 may range from between about 0.5 inch and about 1.0 inch or more. With such a design, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the body portion 11 may taper from base end 12 toward mounting end 13 to form a substantially frusto-conical shape that can minimize the visual effect of the apparatus 10 when viewed axially (See FIG. 1).

Although the base end 12 may be shown as being relatively wide in relation to the mounting end 13, it should be appreciated that the base end 12 can, nevertheless, be measurably smaller than the width or diameter of the object to be displayed on the apparatus 10. In particular, by having a base end 12 that may be measurably smaller than the object being displayed, the entire apparatus 10 may be concealed behind the object when the object is mounted thereon. The base end 12 may, alternatively, be designed so that its width or diameter can be substantially similar to that of the mounting end 13 or relatively smaller than that of the mounting end 13. So long as the base end 12 can provide stability to the body portion 11 when the body portion 11 is affixed to the display surface, the size of the base end 12 relative to the size of the mounting end 13 may be of any desired proportion.

The mounting end 13, on the other hand, includes a plane 131 against which the object to be displayed may rest. To that end, plane 131 may be provided with a diameter D″ sufficient to accommodate a portion, such as a center portion, of the object being displayed thereagainst. Otherwise, when too small, the mounting end 13 may extend through, for instance, the center hole of the object (e.g., CD) and fail to permit the object to rest against plane 131. Plane 131, in one embodiment, may be provided with a shape substantially similar to that of the base end 12. In particular, if the base end 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is circular in shape, then plane 131 may similarly be circular in shape. To the extent desired, plane 131 may be provided with a shape different from that of the base end 12. For example, plane 131 may be square, whereas base end 12 may be circular. Regardless of its shape, plane 131 should be designed to permit the object being displayed to rest thereagainst.

Apparatus 10 further includes, on plane 131, a hub 14 for releasably retaining the object being displayed against plane 131 of mounting end 13. Hub 14, in one embodiment, may be designed to be flexible to permit extension through and removal from a hole of the object being displayed. To that end, hub 14 may be provided, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with a plurality of flexible elements 141 extending from plane 131 and arranged, in an embodiment, in a shape that complements the shape of the hole in the object being displayed. By providing hub 14 with such a complementary shape, hub 14 may be permitted to extend through a hole of the object being displayed and engage against an edge of such hole to retain the object against plane 131. Elements 141 may be designed so that, in their natural state, the elements 141 flair radially outward from the center of plane 131 to engage against an edge of the hole in the object being displayed. Elements 141 may also be designed so that they may be pushed radially inward towards the center of plane 131 to release the elements 141 from their engagement against the hole. To push elements 141 inward toward the center of plane 131, button 142 may be provided, so that each element 141 may be attached thereto. In this manner, when a downward force is applied to button 142, elements 141 may be simultaneously pulled inward toward the center of plane 131 and released from the edge of the hole of the object being displayed. Alternatively, each element 141 may be positioned so that its tip (not shown) may be in close proximity to one another. In this way, a downward force, such as that from a finger, may be applied simultaneously to all the tips to permit all elements 141 to be pulled inward at the same time to release the elements from the edged of the hole of the object. The ability to release an object from the hub 14 permits an object being displayed to be replaced with another object for display on apparatus 10.

The ability to flair radially outward and be pushed radially inward can be similar to the design of various commercially available hubs for retaining a CD within a jewel case. As such, any commercially available hubs may be substituted for hub 14 of the present invention. Moreover, the hub 14 may be any mechanism capable of retaining the object against plane 131. For instance, hub 14 may be a threaded cap designed to extend across the hole of the object being displayed and into a complementarily threaded mounting end 13 on body 11 to retain the object between the cap and plane 131. Hub 14 may also be a snap on cap designed to extend across the hole of the object and into an aperture complementarily designed to receive the cap.

In addition, it may not be necessary that the shape of hub 14 be complementary to the shape of the hole of the object being displayed. In fact, the shape of hub 14 may be different, for instance, square, triangle etc., so long as elements 141 can engage against an edge of the hole of the object being displayed to retain the object against plane 131. Furthermore, the hole in the object does not necessarily have to be circular to work with the hub 14. It can also be of any geometric shape.

Looking now at FIG. 3, apparatus 10 can be provided with an attachment mechanism 31 at base end 12 to permit affixation of the apparatus 10 against a display surface. Attachment mechanism 31, in an embodiment, may be an adhesive material or any material that can permit affixation of the apparatus 10 against a display surface. As illustrated, the attachment mechanism 31 may be situated about base end 12 in opposing manner to permit secured and stable affixation of the apparatus 10 to a display surface. Of course, placement of attachment mechanism 31 may take on any other patterns, for instance, triangular, quadrangular, circular, or irregular, so long as secured and stable affixation of apparatus 10 can be accomplished. Moreover, other well known attachment mechanisms may also be used. For instance, screws or nails may be used for direct affixation to the display surface, whereas with, for example, a hook and loop, or magnetic system, one component can be attached to base end 12, while the other component may be attached to the display surface.

By providing apparatus 10 with attachment mechanism 31 at base end 12, apparatus 10 may engage any vertical surface, transverse surface, or horizontal surface securely. In addition, the display surface may be any substantially flat surface or uneven surface without affecting the engagement by apparatus 10. Moreover, if desired, the attachment mechanism 31 permits the apparatus 10 to disengage from the display surface and move to a new location.

Still looking at FIG. 3, to the extent that a plurality of apparatuses 10 need to be stacked on top of one another for packing or storage purposes, body portion 11 may be designed with an underside accessible through an open base end 12. In this manner, between two adjacent apparatuses 10, the mounting end 13 of the first apparatus may be placed through the open base end 12 of the second apparatus to engage under surface 32 of body portion 11 of the second apparatus. To ensure stability of the stacked apparatuses, each apparatus 10 may be provided with a plurality of ribs 33 along the under surface 32 of body portion 11. Each rib 33 may, in an embodiment, include a first end 331 towards the mounting end 13 and an opposing second end 332 towards the base end 12. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first end 331 of each rib 33 may have a higher profile (i.e., it extends out more) than the second end 332 of each rib 33, such that with their placement along the under surface 32, the spacing of ribs 33 substantially matches a diameter of plane 131 at the mounting end 13. With such a design, when stacked, the first end 331 of each rib 33 can sit atop the plane 131 at mounting end 13 of a lower apparatus 10 to permit stable, proper and robust orientation.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6, apparatus 10 may be affixed to a display surface 50, such as a vertical wall, individually or as a patterned array. Due to the ease of use of apparatus 10 and the disengagable nature of attachment mechanism 13 from the display surface 50, a plurality of apparatuses 10 can be arranged in any desired pattern, whether geometric, symbollic, photomosaic, as letters, numbers, or a combination thereof for decorative or practical purposes.

Moreover, the ability to configure and reconfigure the arrangement of the apparatuses 10 for display can permit a user to display the objects, such as CDs, DVDs, or any object with a similar hole, as part of an overall decorative scheme that can be adapted according to the specific like or taste of the user.

While the invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification. In particular, the size of the apparatus 10 and its components can be scaled up or down to accommodate objects of different sizes. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention, including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. 

1. An apparatus for displaying an object, the apparatus comprising: a body portion having a base end for engaging a display surface, and an opposite mounting end for engaging the object to be displayed; an attachment mechanism at the base end to permit affixation of the body portion to the display surface; and a hub at the mounting end for releasably retaining the object being displayed against the mounting end.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body portion is frusto-conical in shape.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body portion tapers from the base end towards the mounting end.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base end has a diameter measurably longer than a height of the body portion.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base end has a diameter measurably smaller than the object being displayed, so that the apparatus may be concealed behind the object when the object is mounted thereon.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting end includes a plane against which the object to be displayed may engage.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one of an adhesive, a screw, a nail, a hook and loop system, a magnetic system, or a combination thereof.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is arranged in a pattern that can provide secured affixation of the apparatus to the display surface.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism permits the apparatus to be disengageable from the display surface.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hub includes a plurality of flexible elements extending from the mounting end of the body portion for engagement within a hole of the object being display to retain the object at the mounting end.
 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the flexible elements are designed to flair radially outward to engage against an edge of the hole in the object being displayed.
 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the flexible elements are designed to be pushed radially inward to release the elements from their engagement against the hole.
 13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hub includes a cap designed to extend across a hole in the object being displayed and complementarily received in the mounting end to retain the object between the cap and the mounting end.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a plurality of ribs on an underside of the apparatus to permit stable stacking of a plurality of apparatuses.
 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the plurality of ribs are designed to can sit atop the mounting end of a lower apparatus to permit stable and proper orientation.
 16. A method for displaying an object, the method comprising: providing an apparatus having a base for engaging a display surface, an attachment mechanism for securely affixing the apparatus to the display surface, a mounting end opposite the base for engaging the object to be displayed, and a flexible hub for releasably mounting the object onto the mounting end of the apparatus; affixing the apparatus at its base end to the display surface; aligning an object having a hole with the flexible hub; and advancing the object towards the hub until the hub extends through the hole and engages an edge of the hole.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of affixing includes affixing by one of adhesive, screws, nails, hook and loop, magnetic, or a combination thereof.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 16, further including releasing the object from the hub and replacing the object with another object to match specific likes and taste of a user.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 16, further including: providing a plurality of the apparatuses; affixing the plurality of the apparatuses to the display surface; and releasably retaining an object against the mounting end of more than one apparatus.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the step of affixing the plurality of the apparatuses includes arranging the apparatuses in a pattern.
 21. A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the step of affixing the plurality of the apparatuses includes rearranging the apparatuses in a different pattern. 